College Information & Resources

Year by Year College Search

SOPHOMORE YEAR

Student Athlete:

Create a soccer resume and cover letter to send to schools - stay away from most recruiting services as they are very generic and do not have the personal touch.

Begin to research school's academic and athletic programs via your counseling
office, college web sites, and comprehensive sites such as www.usnews.com.

Register on the NCAA Elgibility Center (Clearinghouse) Website.

Begin to explore with your parents how you will finance your education.

Attend college soccer ID camps.

Keep up your grades.

Take PSAT's.

Coach & College:

NCAA regulations do not allow college coaches to send out any information about their programs until September 1st of your junior year.

If you mail coaches something as a sophomore they can only send you a questionnaire
and a soccer camp brochure in return.

You may call or email college coaches as much as you like, but they cannot respond
by mail or email until Sept. 1st of your junior year or by phone until July 1st
of your senior year.

NCAA regulations do not allow college coaches any off-campus contact during your
sophomore and junior years.

When college coaches see athletes or their parents at soccer tournaments they are
only allowed a "formal greeting".

JUNIOR YEAR

Student Athlete:

Ask your High School to send transcripts to NCAA Clearinghouse. Make sure your transcripts meet the proper admissions requirements and athletic eligibility for
your schools.

Send out soccer resumes and cover letters to prospective coaches/schools (many do this their sophomore year).

Send out soccer update letters (or emails) that outline where you will be playing so coaches can evaluate you throughout the year.

Take "unofficial" visits (unpaid by the school) to schools. Talk to students, admissions offices, and soccer coaches. Take campus tours and begin to narrow your
list of schools.

If a college coach shows interest, request that he/she place your name on his IRL(Institutional Request List). Once a coach has decided to put you on his IRL, he/she will contact the NCAA and request that your name be cleared through the clearinghouse. Once one coach has requested your application to be cleared, you will be eligible to play at any NCAA school in the country.

Coach & College:

September 1st of your junior year, college coaches are allowed to send you written
(or emailed) correspondence as often as they like. All other rules remain the same.

SENIOR YEAR

Student Athlete

Decide and set your "official visits" with five schools. You will have to send transcripts and test scores to the schools before you can visit officially.

Write essays & mail applications. If your application is getting "tagged" by the school, meaning you will get a special look from the admissions office, you still
need to follow the normal application process and meet normal application deadlines!

Retake SAT/ACT, (if necessary).

Take SAT II/AP tests.

Request recommendations from your teachers/counselors.

Coach & College:

Coaches are allowed to phone recruits on July 1st after your junior year.

Coaches are allowed one call per week per household.

Coaches are allowed to visit the home of the recruit on or after July 1st. This will count as one of the three contacts coaches are allowed to have. On campus
visits don't count.

Coaches will try and set up "official visits" (where the soccer program pays for your visit on campus for 24 hours) during your senior year or perhaps even at the
end of your junior year.